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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue Unit is an organization of paid and non-paid professionals dedicated to saving lives through rescue, emergency medicine, and safety education. It is our duty to provide the highest level of skill and best possible care to those who call upon us for help. Serving Red Rock, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead, and Southern Nevada.

July is a huge month for our Unit. We have two major events going on at the moment that are both very exciting!

The first event is our recruitment initiative. We are currently looking for new volunteers for our Mountain Rescue team! If you are interested in volunteering, fill out our interest form and submit no later than July 17th.

July 2011 also marks our first annual volunteer fundraising event. We've never hosted an online fundraising event before, so our goal this year is to raise $1000.00 during this hot summer month. All donations are tax-deductible and proceeds help support our volunteers. There are two ways to submit your donation and we appreciate any support that you may be able to provide:

Our troops are exposed to the same type of heat that we experience in Southern Nevada during the summer months. Our troops are in the elements, carrying mass amounts of equipment, and have a very important job to perform. In all of this, the most important job for them is to take care of themselves. It goes without saying that in order to accomplish this, hydration is key.

Most of us can agree that being at war has its negatives. However, war also produces new studies, knowledge, and technology that can only be learned in times like these. Because our troops are at work in an environment much like Southern Nevada, we are able to pull new and vital information on how to better survive and work in a desert environment.

Reasons why hydration is so important:

Body heat management

Increased endurance

Cognition improvement

Maintain proper water balance in the body's tissues

Keeps you alive

As temperatures in Southern Nevada continue to increase and stay in the triple digits, don't forget to hydrate. Do it often and do it well!

Here are links to a couple of studies that have come out of hydration lessons learned while at war:

If you haven't heard yet, our Mountain Rescue team is recruiting! We are looking for Las Vegas residents who are willing to volunteer their time in order to help others. We have received a number of questions from people who are wondering - what exactly does that mean?

To give you an idea, our current MR team consists of people just like you.

Insurance Agent/Owner

Firefighter

IT Professional

Chiropractor

Analyst

Personal Trainer

Neurosurgeon

Paramedic/EMT

Teacher

Each one of us has a regular job and probably lives a life very similar to yours. The big difference is that each one of us has a passion for each other, for learning, and for helping others.

The most important thing that we look for in a new recruit isn't a hardcore enthusiasm for the outdoors, a military background, or rock climbing experience. Knowledge like this is helpful, but the most important characteristic for us is dedication. Our Unit trains extensively. We do this because there is a level of danger associated with this job. We want to be trained above and beyond any rescue situation that we find ourselves in so that when we're in it, we're prepared. Not only are new recruits expected to attend training sessions, but often times, team members must spend extra time practicing knots, mechanical advantage systems, or other technical rope techniques. A majority of our recruits have never been exposed to the rescue environment, so the learning curve in the beginning is large. We want to bring on people who are willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to conduct rescue missions in a safe and professional manner.

You get what you give

We train, we hike, we climb, we fly in helicopters, and when we're called out on a rescue, it's hardly ever on a nice, sunny day. It's windy, rainy, cold, and it's probably 2:00 in the morning on a work night. The winds are blowing so hard that we're unable to use the helicopter. This means that we're hiking in and it's all uphill. We have to carry not only our personal gear, but team gear as well. We have to be physically fit enough to not only conduct the hike, but carry on a rescue mission once we reach our destination. This all happens while our friends and family are at home, sleeping, and we're on the rescue because that's where we want to be.

This experience isn't for everyone, and we understand that. We put all new recruits through a rigorous interview and physical fitness process in order to determine who may be a best fit. We look for character and dedication. We don't mind if you lack outdoor or rescue experience because we'll teach you. If you're willing to put in the time, attend all training sessions, and obtain your EMT-B certification within the first year of being on the team, we'd like to hear from you.

If you're interested in becoming a Mountain Rescue volunteer and would like to be considered for this Fall's Basic's Class, you have until July 17th to submit an interest form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

If volunteering your time isn't for you, but you'd still like to support the Unit, send in a tax deductible donation by clicking on the "Donate" button. We appreciate any support that you're able to provide.